PREFACE. TEN years ago when beginning to make a collection of birds eggs in this country, I was struck by the diversity in the breeding seasons, and the want of any guide to assist the beginner in his researches since then I have kept a continuous record of my observations, and, with the intention of eventually publishing them, I have endeavoured to gather together, as far as possible, the recorded experiences of others and this little book is the result. Many friends have kindly placed their collections at my disposal, and for a great deal of the information regarding the rarer birds, I am indebted to the courtesy of Nr. A. 0. Hume, in permitting the use of extracts from a draft of his book on Indian Birds Nests and Eggs, which has as yet only been printed for private circulation to this source are due the valuable observations from Sikkim by Mr. Gamrnie from Hansi Punjab, the Central Provinces, and Bnndellrhuud by Mr. Blewitt from the Nilgiris by Miss Cocliburu and Messrs. Dnvidson and Wait, and by many others from various parts of India, while the information from Bengal is chiefly due to Mr. Yarlrer. Of private collections from which notes have beell taken thoeo of Captains Cock and C. H. T. Marshall, and of Nr. W. E. Brool, were the most important, and to all these gentIemen my thanks are due. The notes from upper India are comparatively full and complete, but as regards Eastern and Peninsular India they are as yet very meagre, more especially from the latter. A good deal of new information has been collected since the manuscript of this book was put in Land, and more is being accumulated mouth by month but who knowledge already gained is valuable as far as it goes, and believing that it is better that what is known should be made at once available to the public, rather than that indefinite delay should be made for fuller detail, I offer no further apology for the incompleteness of the record. This book will not in any may supplant tho carefully detailed work which Nr.....